Vietnam-Cambodia relations record moves

13:16' 24/06/2007 (GMT+7)

NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong VietNamNet Bridge - National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that the past half-century relations between Vietnam and Cambodia have been continuously fortified in all fields. The Vietnamese top legislator was speaking at a rally held in Ha Noi on June 23 to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cambodia (June 24). Chairman Trong said the governments and people of the two countries have continuously exchanged experience and mutual assistance in national development. Exchanges of visits by high-level officials, ministries, agencies and localities, particularly border areas between Vietnam and Cambodia, have helped to promote the solidarity and friendship between the two countries. He stressed that the trade and economic ties between Vietnam and Cambodia continue to flourish, matching the two countries’ political relations and potentials. The two-way trade turnover annually grows by between 25-35 percent, reaching 940 million USD in 2006, and is expected to increase to 2 billion USD by 2010. Vietnam currently ranks third among trading partners from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of Cambodia and ranks sixth among countries establishing economic ties with Cambodia. Chairman Trong asked people of Vietnam and Cambodia, particularly the young generation, to uphold and further consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries in an attempt to lifting it to a new height. Addressing the rally, Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Vann Phal spoke highly of the comprehensive cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam which he hoped will be further strengthened in the future. On the same day, a meeting was held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang to mark the occasion with participation of provincial authorities and representatives from neighbouring Kandal and Takeo provinces of Cambodia. A three-day exchange programme between youths of An Giang and their Cambodian peers was initiated to mark the event. Viet Nam Net